Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1887-10-08

Then De rode on.
1.-THE queen sends the white stallion as
farewell gift to her Lord Incubu, and bids me
tell my lord that he Is the fieetest ana the
most enduring horse in all the land" said the
soldier, bending to his saddle bow before us.
At first Sir Henry did not want to take the
horse, saying that he was too good for such
rough work, but / persuaded him to do so,
thinking that Nyleptha would be hurt if he
did not Little did guess at the time what
service that noble horse would render in our
sorest need. 1t is curious to look back and
realize upon what trivial and apparently ac-
cidental circumstances great events frequently
turn. as easily and as naturally as door on
its hinges.
Well, we took tho horse, and beauty he
was; it was q perfect pleasure to sec him
move; and Curtis having sent back his greet
ings and thanks, we proceeded on our jour-
ney.
By midday we overlook the rear guard of
the great army, of which Sir Henry formally
took over the command It was heavy re-
sponsibility, and it oppressed him very much,
but the queens injunctions on the point were
such as did not admit Of being triHed with.
He was beginning to find out that greatness
has its responsibilities as well as its glories.
Then we marched on without meeting with
any opposition, almost indeed without seeing
anybody, for tho populations of the towns
and villages along our route had for the most
part fled, fearing lest they should be caught
between the two rival armies and ground to
powder like grain between the upper and
the neither stones.
On the evening of the fourth day-for the
progress Of so great multitude was necessa-
rily slow--we camped two miles this side Of
the neck or ridge have spoken Of, and our
outposts brought us word that Sorais, with
all her power, was rolling down upon us, and
had camped that night ten miles the further
side of the neck.
Accordingly, before dawn we sent forward
1900 cavalry to seize the position. Scarcely
had they occupied it, however, before they
were attacked by about as many of Sorais'
horsemen, and very smart little cavalry
fight ensued, with loss to us of about thirty
men killed. On the advance of our supports,
however, Sorais' force drew Off, carrying
their dead and wounded with them.
The main body of the army reached tht
neck about dinner time, and must say that
Nyleptha's judgment had not failed her; it
was an admirable place to give battle in, es-
pecially to a superior force
The road ran down mile or more, through
ground too broken to admit of the handling
of any considerable force, till it reached the
crest of a great green wave OF land that
rolled down c gentle slope to the banks Of
little stream, and then rolled away again up
a still gentler slope to the plain beyond, the
distance from the crest of the land wave
down to the stream being little over half
mile, and from the stream up to the plain be-
You'd q trifle less. The length OF this wave
of land az its highest point, which CORE
sponded exactly with the width OF the neck
of land between the wooded hills, was about
two miles and quarter, and it was protected
on either side by dense, rocky, bush clad
ground that afforded most valuable cover
TO the TANKS of the army, and rendered 1T
almost impossible for them to be turned.
1t was on the higher slope Of this neck of
land that Curtis encamped his army in the
same formation that he had, after consulta-
ton with the various generals, Good and my
self, determined that they should occupy in
the great pitched hattie which now appeared
to be imminent.
Our force of $4,000 men YVES, roughly
speaking, divided as follows: In the center
was a dense body of q, 900 foot soldiers, armed
with spears, swords and hippopotamus hide
the chest of the army, and were supported by
5000 foot and 5000 horse in reserve. On
either side Of this chest wey stationed 1000
horse, arranged in deep, m'Ijestic squadrons;
and beyond, and ON either side, but slightly
in front of them, again were two bodies,
numbering about 1900 spearmen each, form
ing the right and left wirgs OF the army, and
each supported by contingent OF some l,5OO
cavalry. This makes in all 60, coo men.
Curtis commanded in chief, was in COM
mand of the 1000 horse between the chest and
right wing, which was commanded by Good,
and the other battalions and squadrons were
intrusted to Zu- Vendi generals
Scarcely had we taken up our positions be-
fore Sorais' vast army began to swarm on the
opposite slope about mile in front of us, till
the whole place seemed alive with the multi
tude of her spear points, and the ground
shook with the tramp of her battalions. 1t
was evident that the spies had not exag-
gerated; we were outnumbered by at least q
third. At first we expected that Sorais was
going to attack us at once, as tue clouds OF
cavalry which hung upon her TANKS executed
some threatening demonstrations, but she
thought better of IL, and there was no fight
Chat day AS for the formation of her great
forces cannot now describe it with accuracy,
and il would only serve to bewilder If did,
sut / may say, generally, that in its leading
features it resembled our own, only her re-
serve was much greater.
Opposite our right wing, and forming
Sorais' left wing, was great army Of dark
wild looking men, armed with sword and
shield only, which, was informed, was com
posed Of Nasta's 25 900 savage hillsmen.
my word, Good" said ], when I saw them,
Arntt will cntch IL to-morrow when those